Something to consider with roller blinds- The blockout ones can really block the airflow in Summer, and if you do leave the louvres open, the slightest breeze will cause the bottom rod to bang against the window frame. You can fix them so they don't do this, but again you have the reduced airflow.....which is why you have louvres in the first place. We have the same problem. My son's bedroom. He seems to have adjusted to no window coverings. Luckily we have no privacy issues.

Hi lurchsmum Wow. Thanks for sharing. We're aiming to get uPVC double glazed windows and also have tiled floors. It is good to know about this in advance. Are your double glazed windows especially tinted? With low-e glass? Or something else? Or are they just 'standard' windows? That would have been quite a shock. Hope you feel better about it now.

Hi Tim, it's charcoal: Polytec in 'Feldspar' colour and the finish is Shimmer Matt. It marks like hell (only because the other users don't get that you don't have to paw the doors to shut them) but it's a pleasure to clean (microfibre cloth and Windex). Still a amazing. My tip is to get the carcass of the top cupboards made out of a matching (or close colour). White carcasses look cheap when you open them. Bottom cupboards not as obvious amd they don't stay open for as long as often.

I'm not expert, & no very little about the rating systems. But have heard they're pretty opaque, & as mentioned may not really mirror real world outcomes. I'm surprised that overglazing the northside will result in too much heat loss. If anything, with the right sized eaves, I'd expect it means too much heat gain in winter (& shaded in summer) in the day. But as mentioned by Paul, it's important that you have thermal mass within the home, to absorb this heat. Which can then be released over time as the home is cooling down in the evenings. Thermal mass are heavy materials, like masonry, concrete, & even water. By absorbing heat, & releasing it slowly, thermal mass knocks off the peaks of daytime highs, & nighttime lows, keeping the internal temperature more stable. Without it a lightweight home can become too hot in the day (even in winter on occasions) & too cold at night. Thermal mass is especially important inland, where the difference between daytime highs & nighttime lows (called the diurnal temperature) is greater. So if you are away from the coast of definitely investigate whether you have enough thermal mass in your home. A north facing concrete of tiled floor will do it. It will greatly increase the comfort & energy efficiency of your home. Instead of aiming for the bare minimum when it comes to energy efficiency, resulting in less comfort, & much higher bills. More about thermal mass can be found on this wonderful government website, http://yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/thermal-mass